AN: Thank you for all of the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
"Let me get this straight." Saint Peter furrowed his eyebrows. "Ten years ago Hermione was developing a crush on a boy, and now he's her true love despite the fact that she rarely mentions him?"
"He isn't just any boy," Sirius argued. "He's Ron Wealsey, the second part of the Golden Trio."
St. Pete leaned against his golden cane. "I have no idea who the Golden Trio are."
"The Golden Trio consist of Hermione, Ron, and Harry. They were inseparable as they fought he-who-must-not-be-named…"
"Who?"
"You know, he-who-must-not-be-named."
St. Pete cocked his head. "Everyone is named, even the demons. Who are you referring to?"
"Voldemort." Sirius turned white.
"Why can't he be named?" St. Pete asked.
"Because he appears when you say his name."
"He isn't here now."
Sirius glanced around. "No, I guess he isn't."
"So if Voldemort isn't the all powerful force you make him out to be, then what makes you think the Golden Trio's love is all powerful?"
"You have to believe me. Ron and Hermione are perfect for each other."
"Perhaps they were perfect for each other ten years ago, but much can change in the span of a decade. There is no guarantee they are perfect for each other now."
"Yes, there is," Sirius replied. "If you've been through the kinds of things Hermione and Ron have, then you couldn't help but love each other."
"If being a part of a Golden Trio ensures you are each other's true love, then what makes you so sure her true love isn't Harry?"
Sirius laughed. St. Pete's frown deepened.
"I'm sorry," Sirius calmed himself. "But they love each other only as siblings. I know what true love looks like though."
"Have you ever experienced it?"
"No, but still you have to trust me. What she and Ron have is the real deal."
"In other words, you don't know what true love looks like, yet you are convinced that Ron and Hermione have it?"
"When you put it the way, yes." Sirius' glow became a bright yellow.
Before St. Pete could respond, Severus appeared. His glow was brighter than usual, and there was a hint of a smile on his face.
"You appear content," Sirius noted.
"I have no reason not to be," Severus' feet were off the ground. "Ms. Granger and I had a productive meeting."
"Oh?"
"Indeed, she is learning how to cook. Within no time, she will begin caring for herself better."
"I'm sure you're were such an amazing professor too."
"Between that fact and that Ms. Granger is a quick study, I would say we work well together."
"Wait," Sirius' glow brightened. "Are you actually saying you enjoy working together?"
"There are worse people to aid in the name of a heavenly mission." Severus hovered towards the sofa.
Sirius stared at Severus. "Are you floating?"
"Why would I not float?" Severus sat. "I am a spirit after all."
Sirius jumped, but could only float a few centimeters off the ground, whereas Severus had been at least a meter from it.
"Pity you haven't mastered floating," Severus drawled.
"How did you master floating?" Sirius snapped.
"It came naturally."
"How?"
"Spirits naturally float when they are happy," St. Pete cut in.
Severus' glow lessened. "I am not happy, merely content."
"There's no shame in admitting you are happy," St. Pete replied.
"Happiness is a strong word for how I feel," Severus replied. "Still, I am content."
"Great," Sirius replied. "Perhaps you can spread some of your contentment with Hermione by helping me reunite her with Ron."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because this is a fool's errand that will only waste our time."
"Everything that isn't your idea is a waste of time."
"No, everything which is a plan of yours is a waste of time."
"How can you say that?"
"Because my plans are more sensible than yours."
Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I would like to get to heaven sometime before the end of my century long sentence," Severus snapped. "I assume you want the same."
"Yes."
"Then stop wasting our time with nonsensical reunions and start thinking of sensible solutions."
Sirius opened his mouth.
"If you believe Sirius' plan is nonsensical, then perhaps you could come up with a better one," St. Pete cut in.
"Right now, my plan is to help her with her potion and help her learn to fend for herself better. Cooking and organizing her house will go a long way towards that."
"Aren't we supposed to bring her happiness, not carnal pleasures?" Sirius asked.
"You actually know what carnal means?"
"I read about it in Plato."
"Impressive."
"You should be impressed. I just proved I'm as smart as you."
Severus rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, how is helping her physically going to help bring her happiness?" Sirius asked.
"If she learns to cook her nutrition will improve. When her nutrition improves she will be healthier. That alone will bring her some joy."
"What exactly are you teaching her to cook?"
"Right now we are learning how to fry eggs, but we will move onto something more advanced shortly."
"In other words, we have a plan that will bring her the true love she so desperately wants, and we have a plan that will teach her how to fry eggs." Sirius scratched his chin. "I wonder which one will bring her more happiness?"
"If it is between Ron and the eggs, I would say the latter."
"I still say you're opposing this plan because you did not consider it yourself." Sirius was becoming red.
"I still say you're living in the past and cannot admit that Hermione is too good for Mr. Weasley." Severus' glow matched his.
"I suppose we'll soon see," St. Pete replied.
The spirits turned to the saint.
"I don't think either of you can afford to discard any plan, no matter how crazy the other may find it," St. Pete replied.
"You're kidding," Severus drawled.
"No." St. Pete stood up straighter. "I think checking up on Ronald wouldn't hurt. He could prove more useful than either of you realize."
"Yes!" Sirius raised a fist.
St. Pete snapped his fingers. A parchment appeared.
"How did you do that?" Sirius asked.
"The physics are unclear, but if a spirit desires an object which can be found in the spiritual realm, all they need to do is snap their fingers. This will not work if the spirit is in the earthly realm or if they desire an earthly object though."
Severus snapped his finger. The copy of Nicomachean Ethics from across the room appeared in his hand.
Scowling, Sirius snapped his hands. The book appeared in his hands. Severus glared at him while he gave him an innocent grin.
"Now," St. Pete gave him the parchment. "Here is the address where Mr. Weasley is staying. Tomorrow you may want to visit him."
"Don't worry," Sirius' glow returned to the normal hue. "I will."
"Perhaps once you see him you will see how futile all of this is," Severus replied.
"Or you'll see how brilliant this plan is."
"Doubtful."
"I'll let you two discuss this issue. In the meantime, I have some new spirits coming up from Purgatory who I must admit into heaven," St. Pete announced.
"Don't worry, soon you'll be admitting us past the pearly gates as well," Sirius replied.
"I look forward to the day when you the Trinity's problem and no longer mine."
With that, St. Peter disappeared.
Sirius smirked. "I think he likes me, though he won't admit it."
"He likes you about as much as I do," Severus grumbled.
"You'll love me once this plan works."
"We shall see about that," Severus replied, wondering why his glow was turning a light shade of blue at the thought of Ms. Granger in the arms of another man.
Hermione heard an unfamiliar clanking of pots and pans. She rose from her bed and strolled towards the sound.
"You were not supposed to be awake yet," a low silky voice purred from within the kitchen.
"You were making so much noise I couldn't help but be curious as to what you were doing."
"You always were too curious for your own good."
"Perhaps." Hermione poked her head inside the kitchen.
Severus turned to her. "That being said, I made your favorite, sunny side up eggs."
"You no longer trust me to fry them myself?"
"I trust you completely, or at least in my ability to teach you something."
She chuckled.
"Still, it is well within my right to spoil you every once in a while."
She took a long look at him. There was no glow present. Instead of a simple black tunic, he was dressed in the robes he had worn as a professor. The lines on his face had faded, as if he smiled more often thane frowned.
"Mr. Snape." She swallowed.
His lips curled up. "I thought we had moved past that."
"So we have." She glided towards him.
He removed the frying pan from the burner. His onyx eyes gazed upon hers.
Before a word could be uttered, the alarm spell blasted throughout the room.
Hermione jerked up and took a deep breath. There was no scent of breakfast. Not a sound came from the kitchen.
She undid the alarm spell and rushed into the kitchen. No sign of Mr. Snape.
How disappointing. She could've used someone to cook her breakfast.
Then again, why did that man need to be Mr. Snape? Why did it need to be anyone? Since when were microwavable sausage bacon biscuits a poor breakfast?
She huffed. Why was she dreaming of Mr. Snape anyway? Within a few months he would be in heaven, and she could continue her solitary life. It's what both of them wanted. Before he began visiting her she was content alone, and she would remain content with solitude long after he was gone.
That being said, she would never be opposed to a free breakfast, should he ever decide to treat her to one.